Every autumn she explored the surrounding forests, but her favourite place to go was Pohorje. There, the trees whispered stories, the rustlings gently caressed the soul, and most often she found nature's true treasures - porcini, chanterelles and even rare commodities.
One September morning, she and her husband Jože set off for Pohorje at dawn. Armed with knives, baskets and hoping for a big catch, they parked the car at the edge of the forest. Nada safely left her handbag, which contained documents, bank cards and some cash, in the boot. The forest sucked them in and soon they were enjoying the walking, the fresh air and the abundant catch. The mushrooms grew as if by magic. They were overjoyed and returned home in the evening, tired but happy.
A few days later, when they were again putting away baskets and drying mushrooms, Jože asked Nada if he could lend him a card to withdraw some more cash while he shopped. "Sure, just take it out of my wallet," she told him. But the card was not in it. At first they thought she had misplaced it. They looked everywhere for it; in the kitchen, in the car, among the mushrooms still waiting to dry, but in vain.
The next day, all worried, they went to the bank. There, they were hit by an unpleasant truth. The bank clerk looked at the system, frowned and said in a serious voice: "There is nothing left in the account. There were daily withdrawals from the ATM until the account was empty." Nada stood speechless. It was as if the ground had caved in under her feet. All her efforts, all her savings - everything was gone. She returned home, sat down at her desk and, for the first time in a long time, sobbed in despair.
When she told the story to her three siblings, she expected nothing. But family is like a beacon, twinkling in the distance and the fog. Everyone gave as much as they could. Together, they raised enough to pay Nada at least the minimum wage. Enough to get her and Jože through the month and to live to see the next pension. She was touched. Their compassion warmed even the most wounded corners of her heart.
She immediately cancelled her old card and ordered a new one. The day her brothers and sister reached out to her, she cried again - but this time with happiness. In her moment of greatest distress, she was not alone. And like a mushroom picker in the forest looking for rare mushrooms, Nada found something even more precious in life - people who loved her. She realised that sometimes the real treasures are hidden where you least expect them. In the hearts of those who empathise with you.
Justina Strašek, 30 May 2025
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